U.S. patent application number 10/623415 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-20 for shielding cage assembly adapted for dense transceiver modules.
Invention is credited to Hwang, Jeng-Yih.
Application Number | 20050013126 10/623415 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34063383 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050013126 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang, Jeng-Yih |
January 20, 2005 |
Shielding cage assembly adapted for dense transceiver modules
Abstract
A transceiver module assembly includes a printed circuit board
(4), a plurality of transceiver modules, a plurality of electrical
connectors (6) adapted to connect between the plurality of
transceiver modules and the printed circuit board, and a shielding
cage assembly (10) which is mounted to the printed circuit board
for receiving the transceiver modules and the electrical connectors
therein. The shielding cage assembly includes at least one
shielding cage (21, 22), a spacer (3), and a hanger (1). The at
least one shielding cage and the spacer are mechanically retained
in the hanger, and the spacer mechanically engages with the
shielding cage for spacing a level to the shielding cage for good
air ventilation therethrough.
Inventors: |
Hwang, Jeng-Yih; (Irvine,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEI TE CHUNG
FOXCONN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1650 MEMOREX DRIVE
SANTA CLARA
CA
95050
US
|
Family ID: |
34063383 |
Appl. No.: |
10/623415 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/818 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 9/0058 20130101;
G02B 6/4277 20130101; H05K 9/002 20130101; G02B 6/4246
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/818 |
International
Class: |
H05K 009/00 |
Claims
1. A transceiver module assembly comprising: a printed circuit
board; a plurality of transceiver modules; a plurality of
electrical connectors adapted to connect between the plurality of
transceiver modules and the printed circuit board; a shielding cage
assembly mounted to the printed circuit board for receiving the
transceiver modules and the electrical connectors therein, while
the shielding cage assembly, the transceiver modules and the
electrical connectors are grounded with the printed circuit board,
the shielding cage assembly comprising: at least one shielding
cage; a spacer; and a hanger electrically grounding with the
printed circuit board for providing EMI suppression; wherein the at
least one shielding cage and the spacer are mechanically retained
in the hanger, and the spacer mechanically engages with the
shielding cage for spacing a level to the shielding cage for good
air ventilation therethrough.
2. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the at least one shielding cage includes an upper shielding cage
and a lower shielding cage.
3. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the upper shielding cage and the lower shielding cage are placed
belly-to-belly, and the spacer is disposed between the upper and
lower shielding cage.
4. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the upper shielding cage and the lower shielding cage are
electrically grounded to each other through the spacer.
5. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the spacer defines at least one hole for freely flowing of air.
6. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein a
plurality of upper and lower dividing walls is respectively
inserted into the upper and lower shielding cages to form a
plurality of channels therein.
7. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein
each of the upper and lower dividing walls is made of conductive
material.
8. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein
each upper dividing wall includes a plurality of retaining tabs for
retaining to the hanger.
9. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein
each lower dividing wall includes a plurality of mounting pins for
being received in the printed circuit board.
10. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein
a plurality of through holes is defined through the spacer to
receive mounting pins respectively extending from the upper and
lower dividing walls.
11. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the at least one shielding cage is made of conductive material.
12. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the spacer is made of electrically and thermally conductive
material.
13. The transceiver module assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the hanger is made of conductive material.
14. A shielding cage assembly comprising: a lower shielding cage
and an upper shielding cage, which are stacked belly-to-belly; a
spacer disposed between the lower and upper shielding cages for
providing good air ventilation and providing electrical and thermal
conductivities for EMI continuity and heat dissipation in the
shielding cage assembly; and a conductive hanger covering the lower
and upper shielding cages and the spacer for providing EMI
suppression; wherein a plurality of electrical connectors are
provided around rear portions of said lower and upper shielding
cages.
15. The shielding cage assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the
upper shielding cage and the lower shielding cage are electrically
grounded to each other through the spacer.
16. The shielding cage assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the
spacer defines at least one hole for freely flowing of air.
17. The shielding cage assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein a
plurality of upper and lower dividing walls is respectively
inserted into the upper and lower shielding cages to form a
plurality of channels therein.
18. The shielding cage assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein
each upper dividing wall includes a plurality of retaining tabs for
retaining to the hanger.
19. The shielding cage assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein a
plurality of through holes is defined through the spacer to receive
mounting pins respectively extending from the upper and lower
dividing walls.
20. A shielding cage assembly comprising: a printed circuit board;
a U-shaped hanger located upon the printed circuit board and
cooperating with the printed circuit board to form therein a cavity
under a top wall of the hanger along a front-to-back direction,
said cavity defining a first width along a lateral direction
perpendicular to said front-to-back direction; a unitary shielding
cage defining a second width along said lateral direction; and a
plurality of vertical dividing walls disposed in the shielding cage
and separating said shielding cage into a plurality of transceiver
receiving spaces; wherein each of said dividing walls includes at
least one retaining tab extending through a top face of the
shielding cage to not only fasten the corresponding dividing wall
to the shielding cage but also fasten the corresponding dividing
wall to the hanger so as to have said shielding cage retainably
located in the cavity.
21. The assembly claimed in claim 20, wherein the first width is
substantially equal to the second width.
22. The assembly claimed in claim 20, wherein said retaining tab
further extends through the top wall of said hanger.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to a cage for shielding
components from electromagnetic interference, and more particularly
to a shielding cage assembly for arranging a plurality of
transceiver modules therein. A copending application filed Jun. 6,
2003 and titled "2.times.4 SHIELDING CAGE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED FOR
MULTIPLE TRANSCEIVER MODULES" and having the same applicant and the
same assignee with the instant application, and a contemporaneously
filed application having the same title, the applicant and the same
assignee with the instant invention, are both referred hereto.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A transceiver module is a discrete unit used in interface
communication equipment, and is normally singly received in a cage
that provides shielding against electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Prior art shielded transceiver modules are too difficult to
assemble densely to a circuit board. Therefore, an inexpensive
shielding cage assembly that will allow transceiver modules to be
easily and densely mounted on a circuit board is required.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 6, a prior art shielding cage assembly 100
for shielding a plurality of transceiver modules (not shown)
therein includes a conductive body cage 101, a conductive cover
cage 102 and a plurality of dividing walls 103, which cooperatively
define a plurality of hollow spaces for receiving the transceiver
modules therein. Retaining tabs 121, 311 are respectively formed on
the body cage 101 and on the dividing walls 103, and engage in a
corresponding plurality of slots 24a, 24 defined in the cover cage
102 to hold the cover cage 102 to the body cage 101 and to fix the
dividing walls 103 between the cover cage 102 and body cage
101.
[0006] However, this kind of structure cannot satisfy the
requirement to stackably mount transceiver modules in interface
communication equipment. Therefore, an improved shielding cage
assembly that is adapted for stackably receiving a plurality of
transceiver modules therein is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a shielding
cage assembly for receiving a plurality of transceiver modules
therein while allowing good air ventilation.
[0008] A transceiver module assembly includes a printed circuit
board, a plurality of transceiver modules, a plurality of
electrical connectors adapted to connect between the plurality of
transceiver modules and the printed circuit board, and a shielding
cage assembly which is mounted to the printed circuit board for
receiving the transceiver modules and the electrical connectors
therein. The shielding cage assembly includes at least one
shielding cage, a spacer, and a hanger. The at least one shielding
cage and the spacer are mechanically retained in the hanger, and
the spacer mechanically engages with the shielding cage for spacing
a level to the shielding cage for good air ventilation
therethrough.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of
a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached
drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an assembled view of a shielding cage assembly in
accordance with the present invention, mounted to a printed circuit
board, with a panel prior to engagement therewith;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom aspect view of the shielding cage
assembly of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower shielding cage of
the shielding cage assembly of FIG. 1, wherein a lower dividing
wall is removed;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spacer of the shielding
cage assembly of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shielding cage assembly
of FIG. 1, wherein a hanger is removed; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shielding cage assembly
according to the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a shielding cage assembly 10 in
accordance with the present invention includes a metal hanger 1, an
upper shielding cage 21, a lower shielding cage 22 and a spacer 3.
The hanger 1 covers the upper and lower shielding cages 21, 22 and
the spacer 3.
[0017] Referring also to FIG. 2, the hanger 1 is formed from a
single sheet of metal and is pressed into a rectangular receptacle
box, which includes a top wall 11, two side walls 12 extending
downwardly therefrom and a rear wall 13 extending between the two
side walls 12. An opening (not labeled) is formed by the top and
side walls 11, 12, which opening has a rearward boundary at the
rear wall 13. A plurality of mounting pins 124 with needle-eyes
therethrough respectively extends downwardly from the side and rear
walls 12, 13. A plurality of slits 112 is defined through the top
wall 11, arranged in parallel lines in a frontward to rearward
direction. A pair of inward tabs 121 extends inwardly from each
side wall 12 to engage with the spacer 3, which is received in the
hanger 1, to help support a weight of the upper and lower shielding
cages 21, 22 mounted thereto. A plurality of through holes 110 is
defined through all walls 11, 12, 13 of the hanger 1 for
dissipation of heat generated in transceiver modules received in
the shielding cage assembly 10.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the lower shielding cage 22
includes a conductive first portion 221 and a conductive second
portion 222. The first portion 221 covers the second portion 222.
The side walls of the first and second portions 221, 222 are
interlocking. A pair of retaining tabs 225a formed in each side of
the second portion 222 is received in a pair of receiving slots
225b defined in each side of the first portion 221 for hand
soldering together side walls of the first and second portions on
both sides. A plurality of notches 215 is defined through the
second portion 222 and the first portion 221 arranged in parallel
lines in a frontward to rearward direction. A plurality of ground
tabs 223 is formed near an opening 220 of the lower shielding cage
22 for making a grounding contact with sides of an aperture 501 of
a panel 5 of a system assembly (not shown). A plurality of
releasing tabs 224 extends inwardly at an angle from the second
portion 222 into the opening 220. Each releasing tab 224 defines a
triangular shaped opening (not labeled) therethrough for securing a
transceiver module therein. The releasing tab 224 can be pushed
upwardly to remove the transceiver module from the shielding cage
assembly 10.
[0019] A plurality of conductive lower dividing walls 25 is
inserted in the lower shielding cage 22 and divides an inner space
of the lower shielding cage 22 into a plurality of channels (for
example, FIG. 1 shows a 2.times.4 format shielding cage assembly
having four channels per shielding cage 21, 22). Each channel
receives a transceiver module therein. Each lower dividing wall 25
is elongated, and includes a plurality of mounting pins 251
extending upwardly from an upper, forward edge thereof and a
plurality of mounting pins 254 extending downwardly from a lower,
forward edge thereof. Each mounting pin 251, 254 defines a needle
eye therethrough. A protrusion 257 extends from an upper, rearward
edge of the dividing wall 25. A back tab 256 extends rearwardly
from an end of the dividing wall 25. A plurality of through holes
250 is defined through the dividing wall 25 for good air
ventilation. The mounting pins 251 pass through the corresponding
notches 215 of the second portion 222, and the mounting pins 254
pass through the corresponding notches 215 of the first portion
221.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, the conductive upper shielding cage 21
is substantially similar to the lower shielding cage 22 in
structure. A plurality of conductive upper dividing walls 23 is
received in the upper shielding cage 21. The upper dividing walls
23 are similar to the lower dividing walls 25 received in the lower
shielding cage 22, one difference being a plurality of retaining
tabs 231 being formed on an upper edge of the upper dividing wall
23 in place of the mounting pins 251 of the lower dividing wall 25.
The retaining tabs 231 pass through notches (not labeled) of a
first portion 211. Similarly, a plurality of mounting pins 234 (not
shown) formed on a lower edge of the upper dividing wall 23 and
similar to the mounting pins 254 of the lower dividing wall 25 pass
through corresponding notches (not shown) defined in a second
portion 212, said notches being similar to the notches 215 in the
lower shielding cage 22. A back tab 236 is similar to the back tab
256 in the lower dividing wall 25. A protrusion 237 extends from a
lower, rearward edge of the dividing wall 23.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, the spacer 3 is die-cast and is made of
a lightweight material, such as aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, or
plastic coated with a conductive material. This kind of spacer 3
has good electrical and thermal conductivities for EMI continuity
and heat dissipation. The spacer 3 includes a rectangular base 31
and has a pair of bulges 32 extending from each of two opposite
sides of the base 31, wherein each bulge 32 defines a recess 33 at
a bottom of the base 31. A plurality of extending posts (not
labeled), each defining a press-fit hole 34 therethrough, is formed
on the base 31 arranged in lines for receiving the mounting pins
234, 251 of the upper and lower dividing walls 23, 25 therein. A
plurality of venting holes 35 is defined through the base 31. This
structure of the spacer 3 allows air to flow freely in all
directions around the spacer 3. A front edge (not labeled) of the
spacer 3 provides a stop feature when the shielding cage assembly
10 is inserted in the apertures 501 of the panel 5 of the system
assembly.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, a two-port electrical connector
6 is positioned to a rear of each pair of stacked channels of the
shielding cage assembly 10. Each electrical connector 6 includes a
front interface 61, a top surface 62 and a bottom surface 63. The
front interface 61 has two signal ports 615, 617, each with a
plurality of signal contacts 635, 637 therein for electrical
connection with two transceiver modules respectively received in
the lower and upper shielding cages 22, 21. Signals transmitted
from the two transceiver modules are respectively delivered to a
printed circuit board 4 (shown in FIG. 1) through the plurality of
signal contacts 635, 637 of the signal ports 615 and 617, wherein
the plurality of signal contacts extends from the bottom surface 63
of the electrical connector 6. A plurality of arch pins 613
protrudes from the front interface 61 and extends out from the
bottom surface 63 as ground contacts 633 grounding with the printed
circuit board 4. The arch pins 613 are for contacting with the
spacer 3. A plurality of positioning pins 631 extends from the
bottom surface 63 for positioning the electrical connector 6 on the
printed circuit board 4. A plurality of inward pins 625 extends
upwardly from the top surface 62. The inward pins 625 are made of
elastic material.
[0023] In assembly, the retaining tabs 231 or mounting pins 234,
251, 254 of the dividing walls 23, 25 are respectively inserted
into the first or second portions of the upper and lower shielding
cages 21, 22, and the corresponding second or first portions of the
shielding cages 21, 22 are assembled thereto to create completely
assembled upper and lower shielding cages 21, 22. The second
portion 222 of the lower shielding cage 22 is oriented upwardly,
and the spacer 3 is mounted thereonto, the bulges 32 of the spacer
3 being positioned away from the second portion 222, and the
mounting pins 251 of the lower dividing walls 25 being inserted
into the press-fit holes 34 of the spacer 3. The upper shielding
cage 21 fits to the spacer 3, herein, the mounting pins 234 of the
upper dividing wall 23 goes into the press-fit holes 34 of the
spacer 3. The protrusions 237, 257 of the dividing walls 23, 25
come in complementary pairs. Thus, the upper shielding cage 21 and
lower shielding cage 22 are stacked belly-to-belly, and the spacer
3 is sandwiched therebetween for providing good air ventilation.
The hanger 1 encloses the upper and lower shielding cages 21, 22,
the retaining tabs 231 of the upper shielding cage 21 passing
through corresponding slits 112 and hooking onto the hanger 1 for
mechanical support and electrical grounding. Each channel formed
inside the upper and lower shielding cages 21, 22 is used to
receive a transceiver module. The electrical connectors 6 are
received inside the metal hanger 1 between the dividing walls 23,
25 and side walls 12 to a rear of the channels. The inward pins 625
of the electrical connectors 6 are deformed inwardly and pass
through the corresponding through holes 110 of the hanger 1. The
bottom surface 63 of each electrical connector 6 is exposed from
the hanger 1. The inward tabs 121 in the side walls 12 of the
hanger 1 are inserted into the recesses 33 of the spacer 3, locking
the spacer 3 in the hanger 1. The back tabs 236, 256 of the upper
and lower dividing walls 23, 25 protrude out of the rear wall 13 of
the hanger 1 and are bent at an angle for mechanical retention to
and electrical continuity with the hanger 1 for EMI shielding. The
mounting pins 124 of the hanger 1 and the mounting pins 254 of the
lower dividing walls 25 are pressed into mounting holes (not shown)
of the printed circuit board 4 for retaining and grounding, where
they can be soldered or otherwise fixed therein. The positioning
pins 631 of the electrical connectors 6 are inserted into
positioning holes (not shown) of the printed circuit board 4, and
the signal contacts 635, 637 and the ground contacts 633 are
respectively received into corresponding holes (not shown) of the
printed circuit board 4 for transmitting signals or electrical
grounding. An assembly of the shielding cage assembly 10, the
electrical connectors 6, and the printed circuit board 4 is
completed.
[0024] The spacer 3 of the present invention has a complex geometry
which allows air to flow freely in all directions around the spacer
3 for facilitating the dissipation of heat from a dense assembly of
transceiver modules received in the shielding cage assembly 10. A
thickness of the spacer 3 can be easily adjusted for accommodating
different spacing applications.
[0025] Although the present invention has been described with
specific terms, it should be noted that the described embodiments
are not necessarily exclusive, and that various changes and
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope
of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *